A Guide for Reporting on LGBTQ People in Florida OUTHER Una guía para asistir en el S STORIES N reportaje sobre personas LGBTQ en la Florida English Español Letters from GLAAD & Equality Florida Mensaje de GLAAD & Equality Florida 03 19 Getting Started Introducción 04 20 Terms & Definitions Términos y definiciones 05 21 Florida's LGBTQ History Cronología de la historia de la comunidad LGBTQ de la Florida 06 21 In Focus: Pulse Nightclub En foco: Discoteca Pulse 10 22 Terms to Avoid Términos que se deben evitar 12 26 Best Practices Prácticas óptimas 14 28 Pitfalls to Avoid Errores que se deben evitar 15 30 Story Ideas Ideas para notas periodísticas 16 32 Organizations Organizaciones 17 33 GLAAD's Assistance El equipo de GLAAD 18 34 Cover photos courtesy of (from top left): Equality Florida, The Rainbow Family & Friends of The Villages, Equality Florida, Equality Florida, Winnie Miles & Carolyn Allen, The Rainbow Family & Friends of The Villages GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBTQ People in Florida When GLAAD’s first Accelerating Acceptance report revealed that levels of discomfort towards the LGBTQ community are as high as 43% in America—and spike to 61% in the U.S. South—we knew we had to act. This annual study by GLAAD and our partners at The Harris Poll, which measures Americans' attitudes towards the LGBTQ community, shows that while comfort levels may be rising, more than half of Southerners believe their peers remain uncomfortable around LGBTQ people in various day-to-day situations, such as seeing a same-sex couple holding hands or learning a family member is LGBTQ. To accelerate LGBTQ acceptance in the U.S. South and to counter the growing levels of apathy towards LGBTQ acceptance nationwide, GLAAD is telling the stories of LGBTQ people from across the region through our Southern Stories initiative. The importance of telling LGBTQ Floridians’ stories sadly took center stage when a gunman shot and killed 49 people during Latin Night at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando in June 2016. This unimaginable atrocity—one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history—both robbed countless As a former journalist, I have long understood the power of both the people of their loved ones and stole a sense of safety from the LGBTQ message and the messenger. How the media covers, or fails to cover, our community. Paradoxically, within a setting meant to be a safe space for lives defines how people understand who we are, the triumphs we achieve, an often targeted community. As we continue to mourn the victims of this and the struggles we face. horrific and unprecedented attack, we are also reminded that the work to In the early '90s, I was one of two gay reporters at a large Southern end hate in all its forms must continue. newspaper, when the publisher declared a moratorium on stories about The tragedy in Orlando made urgent the importance of telling the “queers” following a story about a prominent gay couple. Today, media stories of victims and survivors, largely LGBTQ people of color, and continue outlets cover a wide variety of LGBTQ people's experiences and visible amplifying experiences of LGBTQ people who are perpetually resilient in LGBTQ reporters are much more common. the face of inequality and adversity. Together, we are working to build a But the need for education is ongoing and, in the uncertain climate, culture in which they are able not only to survive, but also to thrive. These even more urgent. The changes in the news industry often mean fewer are impactful stories with the power to drive acceptance forward, but they reporters are covering a wider range of topics with less depth and expertise. are too often overlooked, ignored altogether, or inaccurately portrayed by Inclusion and nuance are often the first casualties. others. At Equality Florida, we have invested in media education since we GLAAD has long worked to connect Floridians living at the intersections formed in 1997. We’ve challenged the use of festive pride revelers as the of marginalized LGBTQ, racial, and ethnic identities with wide-reaching B-roll for every LGBTQ-related story. And we’ve explained the error and media outlets in order to amplify their voices, and to equip media experts insult of using the wrong pronoun in stories involving a transgender person. with the tools to fairly and accurately tell such stories. GLAAD's Spanish- After the horrific mass shooting in Orlando, our organization, along Language Media team has worked with leading news sources like with many other on-the-ground advocates, jumped into immediate action Telemundo, CNN En Español, and more to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance to aid those most affected by our state and nation’s tragedy and honor by using the media to increase visibility and build understanding. During the growing list of lives lost. Along with raising millions of dollars for the GLAAD's Southern Stories Summer Tour in 2015, GLAAD sat down with victims and their families, we knew the media would be a vital resource to LGBTQ military families in Pensacola and learned about their experiences accomplish what was needed. in the Sunshine State. And hours after the Orlando tragedy, GLAAD staff I recall sitting in the media tent with staff from Equality Florida and were on the ground in Florida to support the leaders at Equality Florida, GLAAD. It was essential for us to ensure that the reporting and storytelling who were responding fearlessly to the tragedy. about the shooting was accurate and inclusive. We made sure that the Meanwhile, around the state, LGBTQ people are left unprotected from media included the fact that this was an attack on LGBTQ people on Latin discrimination and even more face rejection from their loved ones or Night at Pulse Nightclub, an LGBTQ venue. To do any less would have communities. Florida has no statewide protections against anti-LGBTQ been a disservice to the recovery of the survivors and the memory of the discrimination, yet 28 municipalities have passed anti-discrimination victims. In the months that followed, the media remained a critical tool in ordinances. Florida also stands out in the South for successfully educating the nation and community leaders about the important issues implementing anti-bullying measures in schools to protect against that not only impacted LGBTQ Floridians that late night in June, but that harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. shape our lives every day. LGBTQ Floridians need support and acceptance now more than ever. It How LGBTQ issues are covered here in Florida - the third most populous is important that we continue to shine a spotlight on the work and efforts state in the nation - has a ripple effect in our local communities and well of Florida’s LGBTQ community. This guide will serve as a useful tool for the beyond. GLAAD has been a key resource to help ensure fair and accurate media as they work to effectively share the stories of LGBTQ people, and as coverage of our diverse community, and we are proud to partner once again we work to build a world in which all Floridians can live the lives they love. on this guide, a project that focuses on the South and its unique nuances. Sarah Kate Ellis Nadine Smith President & CEO, GLAAD CEO, Equality Florida 3 GLAAD Southern Stories A Guide for Reporting on LGBTQ People in Florida Getting Started The most recognized LGBTQ-related story in Florida, sadly, is the slaying same-sex parents. The impressive legislative gains made over the past of 49 people during Latin night at the LGBTQ nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando in several decades demonstrate LGBTQ Floridians' resiliency in the face of June 2016, the largest mass shooting in the country at the time. The story adversity and dedication to equality and acceptance. of Orlando will frame stories about LGBTQ Floridians into the future. It is While Florida leads the South in local nondiscrimination ordinances, an extreme example of prejudice and discrimination that LGBTQ people in the need for statewide nondiscrimination protections is clear. All major Florida have been working to overcome. counties, except Duval, have passed ordinances that ensure a person may Though Floridians still face many anti-LGBTQ barriers, the state is not be discriminated against based on any number of characteristics, leading the way in a region not often considered a bastion for LGBTQ including race, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation and/ acceptance. The state is home to a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community or gender identity, and more. In addition, 18 cities, including Orlando that has built itself into an incredible force for change over the last few and Tampa, have bans on sexual orientation or gender identity-based decades. For example, LGBTQ advocates have focused on city and county discrimination. The result is that more than 53% of Florida's citizens are legal protections, with exceptional results. By strategically and tirelessly now living in places where they are free from discrimination based on working for decades to gain grassroots support for localized legislation, sexual orientation and gender identity.4 LGBTQ Floridians have been able to accelerate both cultural acceptance Florida is also currently one of the states in the country leading the and legal equality around the state, even when it seemed like a nearly charge for anti-bullying protections for LGBTQ students. Eighteen school impossible feat. Florida is the third-largest state in the nation, and more than half the state’s population live in areas protected by local LGBTQ- inclusive nondiscrimination Why the South? laws. Additionally, the majority of students attend schools in National Discomfort districts large and small that have Why now? Southern Discomfort adopted anti-bullying policies including protections based on sexual orientation and gender 27% Seeing a gay In late 2014, GLAAD commissioned The Harris Poll to co-worker’s wedding identity.